Wardrobe trunk



July 22, 1930 G. P. cRAGlN l' 1,771,161

' wARDRoBE TRUNK Filed Nov. 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet f1 12311. fag' ze@ .1h-f.

ATTONEY G. P. CRAGIN WARDROBE TRUNK July 22, 1930.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 5. 1928 l llllll/lll/l//l//ll l lll/l l/l/ Patented July `22, 1930 UNITED STATES yI-iATr-:NT OFFICE GEORGE r. oaAGrN, or sroxANE, WASHINGTON WARnRoBE TRUNK Application mea November 5, 152s. serial No. iii-,403. j

This invention relates to improvements in wardrobe trunks. A

VOne of the objects'of this invention is to minimize the frictional resistance incident to opening'a wardrobe trunk, which resistance is due to the frictional drag of the openw ing or cabinet section on the carpet or floor.

In accordance with my invention, the open ing structure of the trunk is made in a plurality of sections which may be serially swung i structure.

The invention also'includes aA novel* stabilizing means, which in onephase of the invention takes the formof an automatic device whichalways functions to stabilize vthe trunk when a portion thereof is opened, and which, in another phase of the invention takes the form of4 a manually actuable device which may or may not be employed, dependent upon the will of the user.

' A further feature of the invention resides in a novel subdivision of the opening structure into a plurality of sections'so formed or so equipped with means whereby only a predetermined section may first be opened.

A further feature resides in the provision of means whereby the closing of one predetermined section will 'move' the remaining section into a closed position.

Astill further featureconsists" in equipr ping the adjacent ends of the swinging sections with closed end walls that ljointly con tribute to closure' of the sections into tight relation when said sectionsare moved `into a closed position.

' The inventionhas many yother objects 'and features which will be more fully described in connection with the accompanyingdrawings andiwhich willv be more particularly pointed out in and by the appended claims. In the drawings; Fig. 1, is a view in elevation of the improved trunk looking at the outer face ofthe opening structure. Y' i Fig. 2, is a view in side elevation looking at the lock side of the trunk and showing the Acontrolling section open to illustrate the overbalanced and over-hanging'section that is closed.

Fig. '3, is aview in'elevation looking at the hinged side of the trunk. i Fig. 11, is a plan view showing how the con.- trolling section may be angularly disposed lin a manner to stabilize the trunk structure.

Fig. 5, is a view similar to Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale, and showing the controlling i section fully opened and the automaticstabilizing device in an operative position.`

Fig. 6, is a view similartoFig. 5, with the remaining section of the opening structure swung into an open'position. y

Fig. 7, isa sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 6,' showing the automatic stabilizing device in a projected position in full lines and in a retracted position in jdottedlines.

Fig. 8, is a sectional view on line 88 of Fig. 6, looking toward the right and showing the stabilizing device in a projected position.

` Fig. 9, is anenlarged sectional view on line 9-9 of'Fig. l. j

Fig. 10,\is a sectional View looking to the l'ight of Fig. 1l, showing a modified form of stabilizing device in an operative lposition in full lines and in an inoperative position in dotted lines. f .Y

Fig.r11 is a sectional View on line 11-11 of Fig. 10, looking towardthe left of ysaid figure. f i

12, is a front elevation looking toward the left'of Fig. ,10.V i. f l V 4Like V characters of reference designate similar parts throughout the different A1 '.igure`s of the' drawings. First referring tolFigs'. Ito-8, there is .shown a wardrobe trunk having a back,

which I will term a back compartment or structure 1, the saine having an outer face 2, a lock side 3 and a hinged side 4. The locks, which may be of any type, are indicated at 5 and 6, and the hinges at 7 and 8. 1n the interior of this back structure 1, will be the usual hangers (not shown) and in the lower portion, is a compartment 9, formed by the face wall 2 and a wall 10. The bottoni wall of the structure 1, is indicated at 11, and a false bottom 12 forms a space 13 into which a stabilizing device is adapted to be retracted, as will later appear.

That is usually the cabinet or drawer portion of a wardrobe trunk is whatl will term the opening compartment or`st1ucture and in the present invention, this openingrstructure comprises a plurality of sections, preferably two in number, and generally designated at 14 and 15; The former section is termed the opening sectionand comprises an outer face portion 16, a hinged side 17 and a lock side 18. The locks 5, coact to secure and hold the opening section closed against the back structure' and said section 14 is adapted to swing about an upright axis formed by the hinges V7. It will be noted that the opening section 14 is not only, the upper section, as shown, but it is also the larger of the two sections, and in Fig. 6, I have shown the same provided with a plural` ity of drawers designated at from 19 to 22. The lower wall 23, of section 14,` is inclined to what would be the horizontal, when the trunk is in the normal wardrobe position as shown in Figs. 1 to 3. This inclination of wall 23 is an important feature which will be hereinafter more fully exi lained. Y

The remaining section 15, of the openingstructure, is what I will term the controlling section and the saine comprises at outer face 24, a hinge side 25 and a lock side This section 15 is connected with' hinges 8. to

swing about an upright axis and locksk 6, to serve to hold this" section closed against the back structure. Section '15 has 'a bottom wall 27 and a false bottoni 28 a space 29 being formed between the two to accommodate an actuating means for the stabilizing device to be later described. The upper wall 30, of section 15, is inclined as shown in Fig. 9, in the saine direction and manner as wall 2?, of section 14.

Thus it will be clear that the bottoni of section 14 and the coacting top of section 15, are each closed by their respective walls.` as shown, and further,rthese walls 23 and 3() jointly coact to render these two sections practically as one, when they are closed against the back structure 1, the two'- walls eenlinginto abut-ting relationl and thereby rendering the two sections effectively rigid when closed. Of course, in the performance of this function, the hinges and locks play an important part butti1ey,falone, couldplay no such' part'i'n the absence' ofthe inclined planes at which said walls 23 and 30 are disposed.

Now a further phase of this inclination of walls 23 and 30 is that they are specifically inclined in such a manner and at such an angular disposition that the sections 14 and 15 must be opened successively, or at least. one section must be moved toward an opening position before the other can be opened. ln the present construction, it is a feature of the invention to so dispose the inclination of walls 23 and 30 that the section 15, must first be opened before section 14 can be opened, and further, it is ay feature that when section 15 is closed, it will automatically close section 14. l

It will now be clear why I term section 15, the controlling section. However, this section performs another important function which will be fully understood by reference to Figs. 2 and 4. It will be seen from Fig. 2, that when the controlling section 15 has been swung open, that section 14 overhangs the back structure and would render the trunl; unstable. This can be the more readily un derstood when it is considered that often the drawers 19 to 22 are packed with material or clothing that greatly outweighs the contents of the back section 1.

herefore, the controlling sect-ion may bc swung into any angular relation to back structure 1, for instance as shown in Fig. 4, in which position the controlling section will be readily accessible as regards its interior, and at the same time, it will prevent the trunk fron'rtilting or falling to the right of Fig. 2. Even when the section 14 is alsa opened, it can be disposed in the general relation shown in Fig. 4, and both sections will be accessible as regards their interiors, and at the same time, the trunk will be held stable. Thus it will be seen thatl in the total absence of stabilizing devices which l will later de scribe, the trunk as thus far disclosed, a completely operative and advantageous structure. At this point, it may be stated that in practice, I will make the section 15 sufficiently large to render its interior useful, and as shown, have provided the same with a drawer 31, asan example, having a loch 31 so that the controlling section may form a complemental part of the opening structure.

The fact that the walls 23 and 30 abut, will, in itself alone, act effectively to prevent ingress of foreign matter to the interior of the trunk but l have provided al further means for the performance of this function that is not only e'ective as regards dust but also rain, and which, in the event that seictions 14 and 15, should, after wear, tend to sag away `from-each other, will supplement thefunction` of the walls v23 and 30.

i Said additional means, as shown, includes an upstifnding flange m'ourft'ed'on` the upper f' j Fig. o.

edge ofsection 15,and having a portion 32 that extends along the hinge side 25 and a section 33, that extends along thev outer face 24, of section 15. This flange extends upwardly far enough to overlap the corresponding or complemental faces of the section 14. Section 14, has a flange 34, that extends downwardly in overlapping relation withv the Ycorresponding lock side 26, of section 15 thereby effectively closing the same against ingress of dust to the interior, or rain either. This disposition of the flanges 32,33 andA 34 is such that they do not interfere with'consecutive opening of the sections and the flanges 32 and 33 act to insureclosure of section 14 when section 15 is closed. However, as a further precautionary measure, I extend flange 34, as indicated at 35, inwardly along the vinner face of section 14 so that when the sections are'closed, there will be outer and inner flanges in spaced relation, acting in supplemental relation to preventingress of foreign matter to the trunk.

I preferably extend the flange v35 far enough down, or dispose the wall 10- far enough upwardly so that when it is desired to lock section 14 closed, without closing section 15, all of the interior'of theback section 1, and the section 14, will be entirely inaccessible from the exterior, as will be clear from This flange 35, also insures opening of the controlling section 15, if and when it is desired to open both sections simultaneously, as it will be readily apparent that section 15 could not stay closed, by reason of' flange 35, when section 14, is swung open.

Referencewill next be made tothe preferred form of stabilizing device shown in Figs. 6 to 8.

A stabilizing member 36 is suitably pivota-lly mounted at 37, inV space or chamber 13, in a manner clearly shown in Fig. 7. This member which may be in the form of a plate of the form shown, is of sufhcient length so that when it is projected, as shown in Fig. 8, it will extend outwardly from back structure 1. Said member is provided with a floor engaging stud 38, projecting downwardly therefrom so that when the member is projected, the stud 38' will engage the floor and, as will now be clear, the range of floor support for the back structure l, will be extended practically the depth of said section, or once again, thereby preventing the trunk from tilting to the right of Fig, 2, either when section 14 is closed or opened to the fullest Said means is in the form of a'link connection ofthe break j oint'type, and as shown, I pivot a link 41, at 42, on said member 36. An actuating link 43, is pivoted at 44,? to section 15 and the remaining end is pivoted at 45, to link 41. A stud or pin 46,"1nounted on member Y36, prevents the links from breaking joint in a manner reverse from that shown in Fig. As section15 is swung open,r it will now be clear how'member 36 is projected into an operative position, and inldotted lines, I have shown Athe position of the parts when section 15 is closed against the back structure 1.

It will'now beclear that .just as soon as section 15 has been swung open, the stabilizing means is, or `becomes fully operativeto stabilize the trunkV irrespective of the position'of section 14, andit will also be clear that by employing this stabilizing means, the sections 14 and 15 can be swung into a full open position. v

As an 'alternative form of stabilizer, Ihave providedmeans which is manually operative both toward and from an operative position so that such means may be selectively em# ployed when desired.`

As shown, and referring nioreparticularly to Figs. 10, 11 and12, 47 designates' a thin strip metal orlike arm thatfI prefer to make of spring steel, andI. haveshown .the usame pivoted at 48,' tothe `interior of 'section` 1. Said arm is suitably bent to form a stabiliz-l ing Vfoot 49, adapted when in the operative position shownin Fig. 11, to engage the floor, as also shown in` Fig. 1,0. An abutment 50, is fixed to the side wall of sectional and hasa shoulder 51l projecting therefrom asV shown.

lVhen` arm4 47 isadjusted' to the'position shown in Fig. 10, it can be laterally shifted under and into engagement 'with shoulder 51, wherebyjany thrust of tilting movement of the trunk to the right of Fig; 2, would be imposed uponsaid armand arrested. It will be notedthat the foot V49 extends over the outer-edge 52, of section 1, so that the foot will engage the floor for its entire area.` When itis desired to retractI the stabilizer,` itis shifted laterally from undery shoulder 51 and backwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10. A retaining stud or pin 53, may be provided for engagement with an ,aperturev54, in arm 47, to hold the latter in a retracted position. f

`It will now be clearthat bys'lightlytilting. the trunk inthe directiongof the arrow a of Fig. 2, if suchis necessary, the lower 'or' be left open, and the drawer thereof locked by lock 31. lSection 14`will thereafter be freetto be opened'aseasily as a dooron hinges. When section 14, is closed and locked, with section l5 open, all the contents of section 14, and the back structure, as will now be clear, will be entirely inaccessible from the interior.

It is believed that the device of this invention will be fully understood from the foregoing, and while I have shown and described speciic forms thereof, I do not wish to be limited thereto except for such limitations as the claims may import.

I claim:

l. A wardrobe trunk comprising a back compartment, and an opening compartment movable toward or away from said back compartrnent about an upright axis, said opening compartment comprisinganV upper opening section and a lower controlling section, and said controlling section being movable into an angular stabilizing position with respect to said back compartment to stabilize the latter while said opening section is closed.

2. A wardrobe trunk' comprising a back structure, an upper opening section and a lower controlling section hinged to said back structure to swing about an upright axis, said controlling section having an upwardly extending flange disposed along the hingedA side and along the outer face of said sect-ion, for engagement with corresponding portions ot' said opening section, and said opening section having a downwardly extending ange disposed along' its interior face and along its lock side for engagement with corresponding portions oi said controlling section, whereby closing of said controlling section will insure closing of said opening section and form interior and exterior closure `means against ingress of dust'or other foreign matter into said trunk between the li'ne of juncture of said sections. Y

3. A Wardrobe trunk comprising a back structure, an upper opening section and a lower controlling section hinged to swing about an upright axis, said controlling section having an upwardly extending flange disposed along its hinged' side and along' its outer face for engagement with' corresponding portions of saidopening section, and said f opening section having a downwardly extending flange disposed along its lock side for engagement with a corresponding side of said controlling section, thereby providing an exterior means for preventing'4 ingress of foreign matter to the' interior of said trunk.

et. A wardrobe trunk comprising a back structure, a section hinged to said structure to swing about an upright axis and rendering the trunk unstable when said section is opened, anda trunk stabilizing device movable into and out ofan operative position by opening and closing movement respectively of said section.

54A wardrobe trunk comprising a back structure, a section hinged tosaid structure to swing about' an upright axis, a trunk stabilizing device movably mounted on said back structure, and means connecting said device with said section to project said stabilizing device into an operative position when said section is opened and retract said device into said structure when said section is closed.

6. A wardrobe trunk comprising a back structure, a section hinged to said structure to swing about an upright axis, a trunk stabilizing device hinged to said structure to swing in a substantially horizontal plane near the bottom thereof and adapted for engagement with the iloor on which said trunk is disposed, and link means connected with said device to project the latter into an operative position with the loor when said section is opened and retract said device into said structure when said section is closed.

7. A wardrobe trunk comprising a back structure, a section hinged to said structure to swing about an upright axis, a trunk stabilizing device hinged to said structure near the bottom thereof and having a Afloor engaging stud, and means connected with said section for projecting said device into an operative position with said stud in cngagement with the floor when said section is opened.

ln witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE P. CRAGIN. 

